US Democrats Seek to Question FIFA President Infantino Over Trump Ties

Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, wants to question FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding his connections with former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the likelihood of this happening soon is slim, as it would require a majority vote in the House, which Democrats currently lack. The Democrats aim to gain a majority after the November midterm elections. Infantino faces accusations of currying favor with Trump through questionable actions. FIFA reportedly awarded Trump a peace prize after he failed to secure the Nobel Peace Prize. Additionally, during the World Cup, Infantino drew criticism when FIFA converted a suspension for American striker Folarin Balogun into a conditional one following a phone call with Trump. This allowed Balogun to play against Belgium in the Round of 16, a decision FIFA attributed to its disciplinary committee, though critics question its independence. The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is preparing a formal complaint against Infantino with FIFA's ethics committee over these matters. Raskin's correspondence with Infantino highlights FIFA's rental of office space in Trump Tower, New York, at an estimated $600,000 annually, which, along with the peace prize, suggests an attempt to gain favor with Trump's administration. Raskin has demanded FIFA release all documents, correspondence, and emails concerning gifts, payments, or benefits provided to Trump and his associates, as well as the visitor logs for FIFA's Trump Tower office. Despite the controversies, the 56-year-old Infantino is seeking re-election and is considered likely to win, with support already anticipated from all 54 African nations and other smaller football federations, as each of FIFA's 211 member nations holds an equal vote.